Which Formula 1 driver made the most of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend?
It’s time to give your verdict on which driver did the best with the equipment at their disposal over the last three days.
Review how each driver got on below and vote for who impressed you the most at the Hungaroring.
Driver performance summary
| Driver | Started | Gap to team mate (Q) | Laps leading team mate | Pitted | Finished | Gap to team mate (R) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis Hamilton | 1st | -0.315s | 0/0 | 4 | 3rd | ||
| Valtteri Bottas | 2nd | +0.315s | 0/0 | 0 | |||
| Max Verstappen | 3rd | -0.581s | 0/0 | 4 | 10th | ||
| Sergio Perez | 4th | +0.581s | 0/0 | 0 | |||
| Lando Norris | 6th | -0.486s | 0/2 | 1 | |||
| Daniel Ricciardo | 11th | +0.486s | 2/2 | 2 | 12th | ||
| Lance Stroll | 12th | +0.099s | 0/0 | 0 | |||
| Sebastian Vettel | 10th | -0.099s | 0/0 | 2 | 2nd | ||
| Esteban Ocon | 8th | -0.062s | 68/70 | 2 | 1st | -15.651s | |
| Fernando Alonso | 9th | +0.062s | 2/70 | 2 | 5th | +15.651s | |
| Charles Leclerc | 7th | +0.435s | 0/0 | 0 | |||
| Carlos Sainz Jnr | 15th | -0.435s | 0/0 | 2 | 4th | ||
| Pierre Gasly | 5th | -1.045s | 30/70 | 3 | 6th | -12.189s | |
| Yuki Tsunoda | 16th | +1.045s | 40/70 | 2 | 7th | +12.189s | |
| Kimi Raikkonen | 13th | -0.019s | 67/69 | 3 | 11th | -22.567s | |
| Antonio Giovinazzi | 14th | +0.019s | 2/69 | 4 | 14th | +22.567s | |
| Mick Schumacher | 20th | 3/3 | 2 | 13th | |||
| Nikita Mazepin | 19th | 0/3 | 1 | ||||
| George Russell | 17th | -0.092s | 0/70 | 2 | 9th | +1.184s | |
| Nicholas Latifi | 18th | +0.092s | 70/70 | 2 | 8th | -1.184s |
NB. Finishing positions are ‘on-the-road’, prior to Vettel’s disqualification
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Vote for your driver of the weekend
Which driver do you think did the best job throughout the race weekend?
Who got the most out of their car in qualifying and the race? Who put their team mate in the shade?
Cast your vote below and explain why you chose the driver you picked in the comments.
Who was the best driver of the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix wekend?
- No opinion (0%)
- Nicholas Latifi (2%)
- George Russell (0%)
- Nikita Mazepin (0%)
- Mick Schumacher (0%)
- Antonio Giovinazzi (0%)
- Kimi Raikkonen (0%)
- Yuki Tsunoda (0%)
- Pierre Gasly (0%)
- Carlos Sainz Jnr (0%)
- Charles Leclerc (0%)
- Fernando Alonso (43%)
- Esteban Ocon (27%)
- Sebastian Vettel (5%)
- Lance Stroll (0%)
- Daniel Ricciardo (0%)
- Lando Norris (0%)
- Sergio Perez (0%)
- Max Verstappen (2%)
- Valtteri Bottas (4%)
- Lewis Hamilton (15%)
Total Voters: 246
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2021 Hungarian Grand Prix
- Ocon congratulated by past French F1 aces after breakthrough win
- Alpine doubt first win signals a performance breakthrough
- Vettel disqualification hearing to take place on Monday
- Why no one received a Grosjean-style race ban for the Hungarian GP pile-up
- Ocon’s “beautiful” late-stint pace was other key to Alpine’s breakthrough win
Debates and polls
- Poll: Are Briatore or Symonds welcome in F1 so long after Crashgate?
- Doohan out, Colapinto in: Have Alpine made the right call?
- Which penalty calls did the stewards get right – or wrong – over the first five rounds?
- Should Mercedes re-sign Russell for 2026 – even if it leaves no room for Verstappen?
- Vote for your 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix Driver of the Weekend
Franton (@franton)
2nd August 2021, 0:32
If it hadn’t been for Bottas, we wouldn’t have had this race :D
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
2nd August 2021, 1:10
No, but we might have had an equally entertaining one with Max and Lewis at the pointy end.
ajpennypacker (@ajpennypacker)
2nd August 2021, 17:01
lol I was about to blow a gasket when I saw Bottas with 5%, but you’re right
F1.Fan (@f1-fan)
2nd August 2021, 0:41
I was between BOT, for fun, because he completely ruined a whole race and ALO, seriously, for how ballsy he is.
ALO handsdown.
DaveW (@dmw)
2nd August 2021, 1:44
It’s actually a valid choice. Just like how Time magazine would choose dictators or disgraced politicians for person of the year. He had the biggest, ahem, impact on the race.
Also just a word for Bottas. He’s not known as a crasher or dirty driver. He just made a mistake a lot of people have made. He even had his partner fly from Tokyo olympics to support him I heard. Just think of your worst screw up at work or in school and multiply the feeling by 1000. And he has a month to think about it and a penalty waiting when he comes back.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
2nd August 2021, 5:16
And knowing bottas usually he isn’t able to overtake cars easily, although spa is a good track for that.
jff
2nd August 2021, 6:44
And 10% actually did vote for Bottas!
Weird commenters here.
All vehemently against trying reverse grid quali sprints because it’s against the DNA.
But when the race order is reversed due to accidents, red flags, or other odd events it becomes a great race with great driving.
pastaman (@)
2nd August 2021, 13:02
There’s a big difference between it happening naturally vs artificially
someone or something
2nd August 2021, 15:12
“Viewers love wet races, yet oppose plans to use sprinklers at random times”
I guess jff has just realised we live in a society.
Keith Campbell (@keithedin)
2nd August 2021, 8:11
@dmw He might have longer than a month to dwell on it. Mercedes have stated they will make their decision on who will drive for them next year during the summer break. If true, and they were really on the fence about who to employ then this was Bottas’ final opportunity to impress before the decision is made. It’s not a great final impression to have in the minds of management when coming to that decision…despite how well it worked for Mercedes in the championship.
Dex
2nd August 2021, 10:42
yes, and I think he can forget about a drive with RBR now too.
Robbie (@robbie)
2nd August 2021, 15:58
@keithedin Personally I haven’t bought into the concept that TW has been looking at VB this season and deciding based on that. I think he has only said that because the rumours of GR going there have been so strong for so long that TW probably thought he should keep VB up mentally during this season. For me, after 4+ years of not taking anything but a back seat to LH, and this year it potentially costing them the WCC now that there is real season long competition from RBR, I think TW’s mind was made up already, perhaps even at the start of this season. VB hasn’t been able to take points off Max, hasn’t put the Mercedes up there for any sustained amount of time to help LH much, or Mercedes in the WCC, and they need to think about an heir apparent to LH and that is not VB. No better time than with a brand new chapter next year, to engrain GR on the team. To me it would make no sense to sit GR at Williams for another year at the start of this new chapter.
After this season TW will want to get his cars back up to 1-2’s on the grid, and with Max in a competitive car, VB is not the guy to do that. Of course that assumes things next year will be similar to this year in terms of competitiveness and who knows? But what TW does know is VB is good at not rocking the boat with LH or the team, not good at race craft, and that puts him too far out of it for a WCC fight when things are close. If anything, TW should be anticipating a close season next year again, from perhaps more than RBR, for that is what the budget caps and the money distribution and the cars able to race closely is meant to do. He can’t bank on utter domination next year, knowing the new realities of F1, and one of them being the Honda pu is so close if not equal now.
I don’t buy the rhetoric that GR would rock the boat for LH, for that can be managed, and anyway TW had wanted more of what would have been an already proven rocky road when he had re-signed NR through 2018, and there is no way GR and LH would have that same relationship. What TW does need, given he’s been one willing to manage two ‘roosters’ anyway, is a stronger driver than VB who can consistently get that car up there for win/podium fights and for the WCC and to try to usurp Max whenever possible.
But hey, if he keeps VB that will be to me very surprising, but better for Max though. And I’ll feel genuinely bad for GR. I think he’s earned his shot at Merc and VB has not earned to keep it. His, what he has proven to be for 5 seasons, back seat, not rocking the boat for LH role, isn’t enough anymore. And that has really come to the fore for TW this season of all seasons when he can no longer just rely on LH romping away with the lion’s share of the poles and wins and thus points. Mercedes need GR now for next year, and I’ll add RBR will need SP to be up there in this new car too.
Dex
2nd August 2021, 10:41
Alonso was good until he made a mistake under pressure from Lewis and locked up.
F1.Fan (@f1-fan)
2nd August 2021, 15:49
@Dex About time someone mentioned it! But when the opposite happens, it isn’t a “mistake under pressure”, it’s just a “finger error”, “miscalculation” or whatever else because he never cracks, right?
Balue (@balue)
2nd August 2021, 21:21
@f1-fan You seem to have gotten the hang of it now
F1.Fan (@f1-fan)
2nd August 2021, 22:09
@balue I am one of the oldest users and active supporters, with donations etc. on this -what it used to be a good- site. But enough is enough. I deleted the old account and I have stopped commenting etc. as I used to, because it’s pretty much obvious that Keith Collantine prefers complete j0kers and m0rons like @f1oclown, @freelittleclowns etc. and other sleazebags like @DavidBr here. Keith Collantine is a dishonest person himself now, compared to what was going on here for years. So, no. I prefer to not comment than to feed the usual and well known trolls. CLICKS AND MONEY ALL THE WAY!!!
David BR (@david-br)
2nd August 2021, 22:40
@f1-fan You sound upset. Want to talk it through? I can’t remember ever actually responding to anything you wrote, but remind me if I said something to hurt your feelings.
rodewulf (@rodewulf)
11th August 2021, 2:23
About time someone mentioned it! But when the opposite happens, it isn’t a “mistake under pressure”, it’s just a “finger error”, “miscalculation” or whatever else because he never cracks, right?
rodewulf (@rodewulf)
11th August 2021, 2:27
@f1-fan
No driver is perfect, eveyone cracks when pushing beyond the limit, but actually reaching the nearly absolute level of performance is the real remarkable feat.
TFLB (@tflb)
2nd August 2021, 1:07
Bottas, clearly…
Nah honestly… I voted for Ocon, outqualified his teammate and didn’t make a single mistake despite being under pressure oretty much all race.
The were several strong contenders though – Vettel was excellent, shame about the dsq. Hamilton came through the field well but I do think he still should have won from where he was. Spent too long stuck behind Gasly and Alonso. And coming on to Alonso… fantastic defensive driving almost got him my vote. Honourable mention also to Sainz – very impressed with his awareness of the race situation and making his own strategy decisions because Ferrari’s are so bad. Just a shame he crashed in qualifying. Also a great drive by Latifi, very happy for him and Williams.
Bart
2nd August 2021, 1:23
I was impressed with Latifi. He doesn’t get much love being an obvious pay driver but I must say he seems to get better and better. Few will doubt Russell’s abilities, but I almost hate to say that Nicholas is starting to prove he’s the real deal as well by staying close to and even beating his team mate from time to time.
But of course this race was knackered from the start. With so many of the top drivers out or damaged a points finish does not reflect the real balance of power.
Then Nikita, knocked out by Kimi. It wasn’t Kimi’s fault, he was told to go when he should have stayed in. Everyone looks at his teammate. I still feel he is out of place, but he is certainly out of luck. I almost feel for the nasty bugger.
Valtteri. Did brake late, way too late. Would not have braked late if it was Lewis up ahead. A silly mistake? Or a calculated risk? Grosjean got a race ban, I feel in this situation with the title fight the penalty should have been even harder than that. He knew the risks, he knew what effect it would have if he crashed into the guys ahead. No mercy!
dot_com (@dot_com)
2nd August 2021, 13:49
I voted Latifi. That was a lot of pressure for someone so far out of his normal position, and he held on really well. Plus I’m a biased Williams fan :-)
RP (@slotopen)
2nd August 2021, 2:54
@tflb
” Ocon, outqualified his teammate and didn’t make a single mistake despite being under pressure pretty much all race.”
Exactly. Also, how wonderful it is to see the joy that comes when one of these guys get their first victory.
Honorable mention to Alonso. He had a part to play, played it well, and seemed sincerely happy to have helped.
Ceres (@ceres)
2nd August 2021, 14:01
He has changed so much since his comeback! Imho, before his “break” it was all about him… the team in general didn’t matter to him. I loved his racing style but characterwise, not so much. :$ Nowaydays, he’s become a tutor/mentor for the young talents and embrasing it 100%, love that!
Ceres (@ceres)
2nd August 2021, 14:09
‘He’ is Alonso btw xD and perhaps needless to say …. I voted for him :)
James Bond (@jamesbond)
2nd August 2021, 1:18
Max for driving half a car to the finish and in the points.
Bart
2nd August 2021, 1:30
The fight between Fernando and Lewis showed what we want to see from Max.
Sadly it was cut short after 8 corners two weeks ago and in the very first corner today.
Earlier this season I hoped that the title fight would be close right until the end. Now I just hope that the best driver gets a turn of luck and crush the championship several races before the end. Enough is enough.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
2nd August 2021, 5:18
Absolutely, luck wise it’s a joke, and if you think about it we hardly ever see long battles with hamilton and verstappen, france and spain were exceptions, usually there’s a crash and one is then uncatchable, unless the car behind is fastest in race trim.
Learon
2nd August 2021, 22:32
I’d only RBR (or himself) had gambled on slicks at the start of the race. He would have finished higher than 10th (9th) and not risked very much.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
2nd August 2021, 1:30
I voted for Alonso. I think Ocon drove a great race.
However the way that Lewis closed the gap in the final 3 laps from 9 seconds to nothing, that deserved an Olympic Gold medal.
TFLB (@tflb)
2nd August 2021, 1:41
@freelittlebirds anyone would think he was driving by far the fastest car left on the grid at that point, and with much better tyres than those ahead…
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
2nd August 2021, 2:24
@tflb there are a few things that are impressive:
1. That he would continue to press with just 3 laps remaining
2. That he believed he could catch them
3. That he did it
Trust me, there’s no one in F1 who’s not having nightmares tonight except Lewis, Ocon, and Alonso. Everyone else is wondering how Lewis could (and probably should) have won the Hungarian GP after dropping to last if not for Alonso’s epic drive. It’s inconceivable even in a Mercedes.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
2nd August 2021, 5:13
Absolutely, he was in the clear fastest car since the other merc and red bull were out and verstappen’s car was damaged but even I said, ok, 8 seconds this close to the end no way, instead he ended up being just behind vettel.
Robbie (@robbie)
2nd August 2021, 16:19
@freelittlebirds As to your 3 points, wouldn’t you have expected all of those three things? Why wouldn’t he keep pressing? Why wouldn’t he believe he could catch them? Why wouldn’t he do it with the only fastest car left by a mile for the whole race once VB and both RBR’s were out of it? Why is it inconceivable?
sumedh
2nd August 2021, 5:17
While his last 3 laps were epic, Lewis had the pace to win this race by lapping everyone today. And Mercedes didn’t take that win.
Think about it, inspite of the strategy mistake at start, he was only 7 seconds off the lead on lap 46. He then made a pitstop and then made it back to 9 seconds off the lead on lap 54. That is a pit-stop recovered in just 8 laps!! This was 2014-esque scale of advantage that Mercedes had over the remaining F1.5 field today.
And then came the gladiator Alonso, who kept him back for 10 laps. Like an elephant guarding its young one, Alonso simply made his car wide enough that Hamilton couldn’t get through.
Clearly, Alonso is the driver of the day.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
2nd August 2021, 11:59
Great analogy with the elephant:-) As I said, I voted for Alonso. I’ve come to the conclusion that having a fast car just helps put you closer to the top. It takes talent to consistently win and it takes a boatload of talent to come back from last to win at the Hungaroring.
There’s no other driver who could tango with Alonso and not crash like Lewis Hamilton. Any other lion there would have been trampled by the elephant.
Every driver in motor sport is thinking of those 3 laps. Some will dismiss it as the car especially those that were less talented and didn’t make F1. Even my wife was wondering how Lewis was behind Vettel as the 3 cars crossed the finish line. You can tell Rosberg, who expected Lewis to win cause he knows what Lewis is capable of, was very surprised when he saw Lewis on top of Vettel.
dot_com (@dot_com)
2nd August 2021, 14:01
Alonso was indeed amazing. I get such joy from watching him race, especially with Lewis. It’s just pretty sad that in the last two races, Lewis has had major setbacks that would have ruined anyone else’s race, but that car is so quick that he can still beat everyone else. Not taking anything away from Lewis as a driver – he is exceptionally good.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
2nd August 2021, 15:24
@dot_com yeah, I think it’s too early to know what will happen in the championship. Things are just changing way too fast. The one thing we know is that both drivers and teams are going to give no quarter to the other. The fight is on! Let’s see how Red Bull responds!
The one thing all teams need to agree upon is removing engine penalties and increasing the number from 3 to 4 (ideally 5).
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
2nd August 2021, 5:12
Slam dunk alonso, I was absolutely sure of it as soon as I saw his duels with hamilton on inferior car and inferior tyres, shame for that lock up, or he could’ve kept him behind.
Lewis Hamilton (14%)
Valtteri Bottas (11%)
Max Verstappen (2%)
Sebastian Vettel (3%)
Esteban Ocon (27%)
Fernando Alonso (41%)
Pierre Gasly (2%)
Mick Schumacher (2%)
Total Voters: 66
Rest 0 correctly, probably quite a few votes missing atm, as for the other people voted here, shocking to see bottas, but maybe cause he created a fun race, the others did the most of what they had.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
2nd August 2021, 5:14
currently*
GeeMac (@geemac)
2nd August 2021, 6:30
It’s driver of the Weekend, so Ocon and Alonso are the standout performers. As Ocon beat Alonso in both quali and the race, it has to be Ocon.
Balue (@balue)
2nd August 2021, 21:24
@geemac Yes. However incredible Alonso’s defense was, he didn’t nail qualifying, and Ocon also had a monumental defensive drive in front of Vettel.
Neil (@neilosjames)
2nd August 2021, 7:06
Went for Ocon – my top two were the Alpine drivers, and he qualified ahead and finished ahead. But Alonso was a very close second.
Keith Campbell (@keithedin)
2nd August 2021, 8:16
Has to be Alonso for this one. I was comparing the pace of the Alpines in the lap times article and it’s clear Alonso had a lot more race pace, in addition to his defending heroics. At one point in the first stint he was 21 seconds behind Ocon due to traffic, then before Hamilton caught him he had closed that to 6.5 seconds and was gaining at a rate of a second a lap with only two lap fresher tyres. I doubt Ocon was managing his pace because Hamilton was a looming threat for the entire race. So no doubt that Alonso was on fire here, as he usually is in Hungary. His performance was reminiscent of Hungary 2014.
Credit to Ocon though that he was ultra consistent and didn’t make any mistakes despite race long pressure from Vettel.
Dex
2nd August 2021, 10:55
Why could he not overtake the Ferrari then? Hamilton had to be carful passing Alonso because he knew he would to put on a show. But Alonso made a mistake and locked up under the pressure then Hamilton soon passed the Ferrari. The other Alpine won the race…..
Keith Campbell (@keithedin)
2nd August 2021, 13:41
I think he could have overtaken Sainz if he either had a lap or two more, of if he had allowed Hamilton past sooner. Ironically holding Hamilton up for so long probably lost his own chance at that eventual final podium spot, but securing the win for Ocon was a higher priority.
As I’m sure you’re aware, the first corner circumstances dictated the outcome of this race. Alonso and Ocon were side by side on the entry to turn 1, but the accidents blocked the middle to outside of the track while clearing the inside. This meant Ocob exited turn 1 in 2nd place behind only Hamilton, and Alonso 7th. Very hard to recover that deficit at the Hungaroring.
someone or something
2nd August 2021, 15:19
Because you need an advantage of something like 2 seconds per lap to have a 50:50 chance of overtaking. Alonso had about 1 second in hand over Sainz, which is barely enough to stay in DRS range.
Jeorge (@jeorge)
2nd August 2021, 8:47
Alonso
Dave
16th August 2021, 9:43
“Dislike mercedes noobs this team is full of”
F1 frog (@f1frog)
2nd August 2021, 9:42
It could be either of the Alpine drivers, but my vote goes to Fernando Alonso. He qualified fractionally behind Ocon, and it was bad luck in the melee at the start that meant he was down amongst the pack while Ocon was in second. At the point when Latifi pitted, Alonso was thirty-odd seconds behind Ocon, but clawed down that gap to nine seconds by the time Hamilton caught him, and had he not had to defend from Hamilton he would probably have passed Sainz and caught Ocon and Vettel. But really he gets my vote because of that class defence against Hamilton, which won the race for Alpine today.
Duncan Idaho (@didaho)
2nd August 2021, 10:21
Both Russell and Alonso did outstanding and unselfish jobs defending their team-mate’s positions – if I could vote for both I would.
Broke1984 (@broke1984)
2nd August 2021, 10:28
Maybe an unpopular opinion but I have this to Latifi. He was within a tenth of Mr Saturday and after the carnage he held onto 3rd for much of the race, racing with people in cars that he could never normally compete with. Ocon comes a close 2nd for me for the same race reasons, he dealt with that pressure so well but Ocon is always considered a driver with potential whilst Latifi is generally dismissed as a pay driver
ILuvSoundtracks (@)
2nd August 2021, 10:33
Fernando Alonso.
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
2nd August 2021, 11:09
Went for Alonso…just. It was really only between the two Alpine drivers. Great performance by Ocon as well who out qualified Alonso by one place and then did not crack under the pressure of Vettel chasing. He hardly put a foot wrong.
Alonso though had more ground to make up as he lost more places at the start. Then I think his defensive driving against Hamilton almost certainly delayed Hamilton from being right on Ocon’s tail by the end. Lewis could even have won it as he had the newest tyres. He ground to a halt though once he came up to Alonso. Brilliant driving from Alonso.
roadrunner (@roadrunner)
2nd August 2021, 11:31
Tough one. Alonso for his heroic defense? Not alot of drivers could have stalled Hamilton like he did yesterday. A bit like Schumacher in Monza 2011. Brilliant positioning of his car.
Latifi for a very, very matured drive. I’ve never been his biggest fan. But he really is doing a fine job this season and was on par with Russel this weekend.
In the end it has to be Ocon. I mean he just won the race in a Renault under constant pressure out qualifying and outracing his teammate.
Yes, he was lucky to end up where he was but so were all the other contenders.
Honorable mentions to Vettel too. He’s doing a Perez and seizing all opportunities. Hope they find some fuel somewhere in the car…
Pironi the Provocateur (@pironitheprovocateur)
2nd August 2021, 23:06
+1, I gave it to Latifi because he’s way better than people paint him to be (just another paydriver) and he had brilliant pace in the Williams, beating Russell quite convincingly.
Pinak Ghosh (@pinakghosh)
2nd August 2021, 11:32
This is a difficult choice this week and have to look into the overall weekend. Went with Vettel. Qualified in top 10 and beat teammate on Saturday. Kept pace with the lead car throughout the race. Finished second on track and beat teammate who crashed. Liked his bold off race statements.
Zann (@zann)
2nd August 2021, 11:50
Fernando is a very valid choice, what a star, and Esteban, all that pressure the whole time. But I’ve gone for Lewis, imagine driving like that, so relentless, and then barely able to stand as he was actually quite ill.
David BR (@david-br)
2nd August 2021, 14:03
@zann Yep, that’s exactly what I’ve thought. That was a marathon+ for him.
stefano (@alfa145)
2nd August 2021, 12:59
it must be the first time a driver gets more votes than his teammate who legit won the race and beat him in qualy as well. I loved the fight with Alonso as everyone else, but I feel this voting is becoming skewed on the emotional side. If I look at Hamilton race from start to end, and his pole position, plus his physical condition on the podium it’s hard to say the guy was second to anyone else this weekend. He got my vote this time no doubt
F1.Fan (@f1-fan)
2nd August 2021, 16:27
@alfa145
So, basically, you are doing the same that you judge others for. Nice!
stefano (@alfa145)
2nd August 2021, 17:38
nah. I valued Hamilton’s post race conditions as an extra indicator of athletic effort, since I assumed he was in a similar conditions during the last part of the race, which makes his performance even more praise-worthy, considering how furiously he was coming at the first two in the last laps, debilitated as he appeared to be
F1.Fan (@f1-fan)
2nd August 2021, 23:13
@alfa145 Blah, blah, blah, blah.
When, 30 years ago, I saw Nigel Mansell getting out of the car, fell down and couldn’t walk, I felt the same.
THIS IS THE EMOTIONAL SIDE THAT YOU REJECTED ON YOUR MESSAGE BUT YOU DID IT ALSO.
stefano (@alfa145)
2nd August 2021, 23:19
again, nah. the fact that you might attach an emotional sentiment doesn’t detract from my statement. emotion is something that you can add to it, which I didn’t. If you’ve ever found yourself highly dehydrated/out of sugars while in the middle of intense activity you could relate and appreciate it for what it is. there is no emotional backing on my vote.
F1.Fan (@f1-fan)
3rd August 2021, 0:24
@alfa145 Ok then, with you people, we need to forget even the basic and logical principals of argument.
But you did it exactly here, right after you judged others for it.
This has nothing to do with a race/driver evaluation, but how you felt from a certain image that you saw. These are basic psychology principals. So, you better stop typing again the same blah, blah, blah, blah and “nah”.
stefano (@alfa145)
3rd August 2021, 0:30
feel free to have a different opinion than mine
Balue (@balue)
2nd August 2021, 21:52
Lol, a classic
@f1-fan @alfa145
Jere (@jerejj)
2nd August 2021, 13:17
DOTW: HAM
DOTD: ALO, although OCO is equally DOTD-worthy.
JL (@j-l)
2nd August 2021, 13:33
Fernando, the future rookie of the year.
David BR (@david-br)
2nd August 2021, 14:02
Hamilton. Pole on Saturday with a great lap, good start, a team strategy mistake sending him to the back, then relentless effort to finish third. I appreciate Alonso’s brilliant defense (likewise Ocon’s versus Vettel) but Hamilton’s exhaustion showed just how much he put into the race. If Vettel couldn’t find a way past Ocon the entire race, I think the merit has to go to the driver who did find his way past countless other cars.
Balue (@balue)
2nd August 2021, 21:59
@david-br Yeah let’s just ignore the car and tyre advantage completely, jeez..
Yet over 2 second lap advantage and still he was struggling to get past, but if he got past people and Vettel, who only had a fraction of that, couldnt, then that’s the differentiator? You don’t even try anymore.
Then you just handily forgot that he couldn’t even see that it was obviously time for slicks, even after all those years, and according to you, supreme skills on slicks on a damp track. The error was just as much his as it was the teams.
David BR (@david-br)
2nd August 2021, 22:27
@balue Well, according to me and anyone who knows anything about Formula 1, yes, Hamilton is pretty good in the rain. You picked out Imola as a mistake, rightly, but there have been others. I don’t see how you think those examples (and you can chose examples for any driver, all are fallible) constitute any substantial counterproof. Should he have switched onto slicks? Yes. But he works in a team based on team decision-making. It has been fairly successful for Mercedes that way, right? But have they got the balance right in terms of how they weigh those inputs? Maybe not. In terms of pace difference, yes, obviously, but that doesn’t negate the overall effort from Hamilton involved, which was the point.
Balue (@balue)
3rd August 2021, 8:57
@david-br No, your point was that Hamilton was the driver of the weekend since he could overtake cars when others like Vettel couldn’t, dishonestly ignoring obvious facts like relative car and tyre advantages.
Then you ignore the fact that Hamilton could easily have called strategy which he’s done in the past and which you surely have praised him for, as no one is better placed to make the calls to slicks than the driver, yet Hamilton pussied out as the only one and it cost him massively.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
2nd August 2021, 22:48
@balue you might not like the man but you gotta respect the performance! This was an amazing race by Lewis – he’s always been the best overtaker in F1 but this season he’s putting in some crazy performances. It’s beginning to look more like art than sport which is what these people somehow are able to do.
The duel between Alonso and Hamilton could have been part of a Kurosawa movie ;-)
Balue (@balue)
3rd August 2021, 9:02
@freelittlebirds What baffles me with you Hamilton fanatics is the ease with which you will dishonestly ignore obvious facts. It’s like it’s a completely natural state of affairs. Hamilton has gotten multiple penalities for amateurishly crashing into the last people he’s been in a close fight with (Albon, Albon, Verstappen), and despite a massive car advantage (2.5 s) had trouble getting past a lowly Alpine now.
Todfod (@todfod)
2nd August 2021, 14:05
Hard one between Alonso, Lewis and Ocon.
Lewis’ only mistake was the one made by his team this weekend. He went from last to finish in P3 with some great pace and overtaking. Couldn’t give it to Lewis though.. because he had the pace to win the race but couldn’t get by Alonso for nearly 8 laps.
Alonso’s only blemish on this weekend was that he got outqualifed by his teammate on Saturday by a few hundredths of a second. He came off worse at the start due to the mess and worked himself up really well in the race to finish in P5. His defensive driving against Lewis was a pure masterclass and it’s unfortunate he wasn’t on the lucky side of the grid like Ocon was because he showed better race craft and pace than his teammate did, who won the race.
Ocon for putting a solid qualifying and a really controlled race keeping Seb behind for the entire race. He capitalised on the opportunity presented to him and couldn’t have done much more to take the win. His race pace however, was nothing stellar as Sainz and Alonso both caught up to him and Seb with ease in the second stint despite being over 15 seconds adrift.
Had to give it to Alonso this weekend. Probably his strongest drive of the season, along with some of the best defensive driving I’ve seen in a while. If he were just luckier at the start, he would have taken this win from his teammate.
Christopher Rehn (@chrischrill)
2nd August 2021, 16:14
Easily Ocon for me. Outqualified Alonso, and then avoided the first corner incident. Then, was the first driver to enter the pits, having watched Hamilton not do it. Then, did not put a foot wrong all race to keep Vettel behind.
Alonso drove a great race, yes, but he qualified behind Ocon and importantly did make that tiny little lockup which in the end allowed Hamilton to reach the podium.
All in all, a lot of drivers had a brilliant Sunday including Latifi, who deserves an honorable mention. The Canadian is a DOTD challenger, but not strong enough on Saturday to win DOTW.
Jorge Lardone (@jorge-lardone)
2nd August 2021, 17:48
Esteban Ocon, of course.
Goog weekend also for Vettel, Sainz, Gasly, Hamilton.
OEL F1 (@oel-f1)
2nd August 2021, 19:30
Alonso, obviously. Not only for the brilliant defending against Hamilton, but he was ahead of the likes of Ocon going into the first corner, only to be massively held up by the incidents. And he was quicker than Ocon during the race.
erikje
2nd August 2021, 20:35
Sainz coming from 15 to the podium… nobody seems to notice..
Balue (@balue)
2nd August 2021, 22:03
Yeah who cares if he crashed out of Q2 and would have likely struggled to get a point, and was just saved by a huge lucky break. Even with that still didn’t really have the pace of his rivals, and the defense against Hamilton was rookie-like.
Niefer (@niefer)
2nd August 2021, 23:13
Oh, I’m loving seeing the double standards around here. Suddenly the “cracking under pressure” of Alonso at T1 doesn’t count, nor the “rocketship” in which Hamilton ran circles around mean anything. But let’s just swap those names for, say, Vettel or Schumacher, Grosjean, Mazepin or Stroll, and watch the magic happens.
Truth be told, the epic ALO vs HAM battle was just the showcase of a great Sunday. But Weekend means Friday and Saturday along.
OCO was the man of the weekend.
rodewulf (@rodewulf)
6th August 2021, 19:25
@niefer
Not double standards at all when we see the context. Hamilton passed many cars after thier strategy blunder dropping to last, but which one he had by far the most trouble overtaking? Alonso for sure. And that’s with a lowly midfield Alpine, 7th fastest car of the grid. Doing the best he could, enough to allow Ocon to win, may only be described as “cracking under pressure” if you’re taken unrealistic scenarions into consideration i.e. holding a Mercedes with fresher tyres, 2.5 time delta, for any longer than that. Very few drivers could pull out that masterclass of defending, so that’s the reason. Cracking under pressure actually happens when one fall short of expectations, not when he excels over them. So “double standards” here is just recognising an epic drive given the circustances by not making a superficial evaluation of performance.
Niefer (@niefer)
6th August 2021, 20:39
@rodewulf – I take you’re new around here. Soon you’ll get what I’m talking about.
rodewulf (@rodewulf)
6th August 2021, 21:40
@niefer Relatively speaking I am, so will you, senpai, explain what I’ve failed to realise or just had come too late to see? Many have said Hamilton cracked under pressure and it in fact was arguably true for some moments this season. His fluffed restart at Baku or even more likely his shunt in Imola while trying to gain time lapping Russell might be described as cracking under pressure as he was desperately pursuing a win to increase advantage in the WDC and failed badly, only rescuing big points one of those times with safety car help. It fits the definition of cracking under pressure way better than Alonso being overtaken after pulling off a great and unexpected show, and even then seeing his efforts rewarded with a win for his team Alpine. After the chaotic start, Ocon very likely wouldn’t have won if he hadn’t managed to hold on in front of Vettel and if Alonso wasn’t there to be definitively a thorn on Hamilton’s side to deny him victory. If you call those situations the same, or worse, you consider that being overtaken by a way faster car after an intense fight is more cracking under pressure than throwing away that amount of points, then the double standards are on you but you project it in others.
Niefer (@niefer)
6th August 2021, 22:42
@rodewulf – senpai, really?! My reply was short because my post wasn’t intended for you but for the hypocrites around here who use the tiniest shred of imperfection to bash certain drivers whilst being far comprehensive with their idols either for damage limitation or just good the good old cult.
For instance, last season there were only pitchforks for Ocon and Vettel but this season Alonso (when underperforming) and Ricciardo get puffs. Even Hamilton’s mistakes early season got mitigation. As I said, soon enough you’re gonna see for yourself, unless you’re on board with the Alonsomania or got HAMmered, or anything of the sort, of course.
I hope it became clear that I never meant to antagonise you. So, ease up, rode-chan. Welcome to Racefans, by the way.
rodewulf (@rodewulf)
6th August 2021, 23:27
@niefer
Why not? Fitting for someone who brings this unrelated question of someone being new in the site or not.
Okay, then. I just thought that cracking under pressure was not a good description of how the Alonso/Hamilton fight unfolded.
I don’t speak in name of other commentators, but I recognised when Alonso was struggling early this season but he’s past this stage of readaptation in Formula 1 now. He has been able to maximise his haul of points, often beating faster cars for the last six GPs. Can’t you appreciate that? Or you only care about the driver that wins the race or at least reach the podim? I think you’re smarter than that and know the machinery differences involved. There’s no reasonable way to say that Alonso is still underperforming (he outqualified his team-mate 6-5 this season, five times in a row prior the Hungarian GP after he got into the swing of things, and scored points in 8 out of 11 races this season – more points finishing than Bottas in a Mercedes, for the perspective – what is an impressive feat for Alpine). So he can be considered one of the best drivers of the grid again unless you forget completely that he’s still in a lowly midfield car despite drawing plenty of attention for his fighting spirit in last races, sometimes stealing the scene in the upper midfield or even the frontrunners’ fight.
As for Hamilton, well, Alonso and Verstappen didn’t make as many big errors than he did this season. Period.
The last stance of your comment made me chuckle, seriously. I never meant to unsettle you but yet you didn’t let the quip go to waste with this “rode-chan” remark, so not bad! :S
Niefer (@niefer)
7th August 2021, 1:44
This is precisely the point. Recently, anything was used to belittle certain drivers. But when the darling-drivers come into play, people get suddenly fairer. I even instituted a Mock Trophy named after Seb Vettel to make fun of some, and I actually fished one hypocrite already the first or second time I tainted the glorious Lewis name.
You do realise I never disputed anything of the sort?
Just as I never meant to sound arrogant with my “senior position” (as if it held any prerogative in the first place).
Well, I guess we’re on the same page now, wouldn’t ya say? (:
@rodewulf
rodewulf (@rodewulf)
7th August 2021, 8:23
@niefer
Yeah, clear of misunderstandings. Those happen pretty often in written text communication. Anyway, there’s many fans here with bewildering bias as you said. Most of them are Lewis fans but there’s also some Max fans that do cherrypick regs, for instance. I find appalling the way that many forget so easily or refuse to take in consideration the mistakes Hamilton has done this season but instead try to make a hole out of a scratch for minor errors coming from Verstappen. And the failure to take into account the machinery performance delta is another classic coming from them, despite some making the opposite mistake of being too dismissive of Hamilton, who is a great driver regardless of his shenanigans backed by Mercedes. So I have my own opinions, they’re not necessarily on the middle nor are bias free (it would be rather arrogant to assume they are) but I try to justify them with verifiable evidence and a chain of arguments, differently from others who just shout things. It’s understandable, though, that’s their way of being passionate, the only problem is when half-truths or lies arise too much and create a fantasy world. Most of them have too much trouble grasping anything that’s outside of it, the well known echo chamber effect.
Niefer (@niefer)
7th August 2021, 16:58
Well said! Agree 100%.
Niefer (@niefer)
7th August 2021, 17:00
@rodewulf – forgot to tag, sorry!
Pjotr (@pietkoster)
3rd August 2021, 11:18
Alonso. But anybody but that crybaby/ dramaqueen Ham would do.